HARRISBURG, PA (WHTM) — History books are full of stories about the men who lead our country, but ahead of the nations 250th anniversary — and during Women’s History Month — there’s an effort to recognize the women.
Some of these women include Pennsylvania’s former first ladies, Michele Ridge and Frances Wolf, who joined the Commonwealth’s current first lady Lori Shapiro, and former first lady of the United States Jill Biden, for a special luncheon and panel in Harrisburg Wednesday.
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Several topics were discussed — including the importance of leadership.
“I have seen so much more engagement by women in leadership and and on the flip side of that, I have to tell you that it’s also important for men to see women in leadership,” said Ridge.
They also spoke on the significance of holding civic values.
“As a Senate spouse I had worked on breast cancer. I had the Biden Breast Health Initiative and then I became second lady,” Biden shared. “And of course, I worked with Michelle Obama on joining forces and our military initiative and our son was in the military. So, of course, that very easily owned a piece of my heart. And i’m an educator. I’ve been teaching for 40 years.”
Shapiro spoke on why women and girls need opportunities to succeed.
“Just like having meals and being prepared to learn because you’re not hungry,” she said. “All of those things set the stage for opportunity and success later on.”
And they also touched on the need to provide service.
“We all realize the magnitude of this position of public service and the responsibility to do it well,” Wolf added.
There was also a special appearance from a woman who has lived by these characteristics for the last 100 years.
Mae Krier, of Bucks County, worked in a factory duing WWII as a Rosie the Riveter.
Record number of women serving in Pennsylvania House
“Up until 1941, it was a man’s world,” she said. “It’s not a man’s world anymore.”
Proceeds from the luncheon will also award two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in scholarships to female high school seniors — who are about to head off to an in-state college or university.
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